Declaring that child pornography is not a "victimless crime," Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano sent a 33-year-old father to jail for 11 to 23 months in prison for disseminating pornographic photographs of young girl from his home computer.

Christopher Andrew Blake of Easton also will have to register for 25 years as a sex offender, serve five years' probation and will not be able to spend unsupervised time with his two children until authorities clear him. And, the judge said, he's not sure Blake will ever be cleared.

"This sick, aberrant behavior needs to be stopped because it is not a victimless crime," Giordano said.

Blake was arrested during a state police investigation of computers that were sharing files of child pornography. Through a court order, state police tracked down Blake from an IP address and on June 19 served a search warrant on his home in the 300 block of West Lincoln Street, court records say.

According to court records, Blake admitted in a police interview at his residence that he had used the computer to download the files. A subsequent search of the computer revealed child pornography, records say.

Timothy Prendergast, Blake's attorney, said his client took responsibility immediately and negotiated a plea at his preliminary hearing. He said Blake is aware of the severity of the crime and wants to seek treatment.

Blake apologized for his actions and asked for forgiveness from the judge.

But Giordano said forgiveness was not his to give — that had to come from "that guy upstairs," his family and the victims.

Blake pleaded guilty to disseminating child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility. He will get credit for seven months that he has been in Northampton County Prison.